Instead of a Canadian flag, a red dress flapped in the wind from a light post at a park in downtown Halifax Wednesday morning.
For some, it was Canada Day. A time to celebrate.
For others, such as Tayla Paul, it was July 1. A time for reflection, education and conversations focused on Indigenous people.
“Today is about decolonization and recognizing colonial impacts on bodies and land,” Paul told The Chronicle Herald.
“It’s important for different groups to come together and acknowledge how a lot of us Indigenous people have been, and still are, so impacted by the fundamental racism that Canada asserted initially.”
Paul was one of roughly 250 people to gather at the Peace and Friendship Park Wednesday morning for a water prayer, led by water protector Doreen Bernard, to kick off a series of rallies in the city throughout the day.
People wrote messages, such as “No celebration on stolen land” and “Decolonize your mind. Protect Indigenous people,” on the pavement with chalk before listening to how Indigenous people such as Chantal Moore, Rodney Levi, Everett Patrick and Eishia Hudson unjustly lost their lives.
“A lot of us have been so impacted and harmed by colonialism, so let’s do something new on this day that respects Indigenous sovereignty,” Paul said.
“It’s time for these conversations to happen now with Black people, Indigenous people, Palestinian people and other people of colour who have been impacted by colonialism.”
Paul said she and many others are still waiting for the national action plan in response to the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls report released last year, and is looking for the government to take action and work with Indigenous people.
"We need fundamental, structural and systemic change. There's a whole section in the MMIWG report about justice, so stalling on implementing recommendations while we have more deaths is just unacceptable," she said.
After the No More Stolen Sisters event, dedicated to MMIWG, people made their way to the waterfront boardwalk, where they joined people who had gathered to voice opposition to Israel's plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.
The group is now making its way down to the wave on the Halifax waterfront for the second event. pic.twitter.com/lmdKldvCWd
— Nicole Munro (@Nicole__Munro) July 1, 2020
Billy Lewis, an Indigenous elder, said Indigenous and Palestinian people are acting on the same issue: defending the land.
“It can appear to be very confusing, but what’s confusing about coming in and brutally taking over a whole land that you’ve lived on all your life and then defining the people who are being driven out as the terrorists,” Lewis said.
The trio of demonstrations ended in front of the Halifax provincial courthouse on Spring Garden Road, where hundreds of people sat and listened to Indigenous speakers, danced and sang.
But the messages delivered Wednesday weren't accepted by everyone. Some shouted at the group, calling their actions “ridiculous.”
Eleanor Michael encouraged people in attendance to not feed into what negative things people were saying.
“When they’re ready and there’s time, we will always welcome people into our circle,” Michael said.
“Some people have difficulties and don’t understand why we’re doing this, but we’re doing it for everybody,” she said.
“In 1752, my people didn’t sign a treaty with themselves. They signed it with everyone, so when they go, ‘Oh, they’re just fighting about treaty rights,’ well they’re your rights too.”